New laptop - but operating in linear mode
 

Dell Latitude D820 - dual core2 2 gigs of ram - 80g HD

Operating XP Pro

yet - it's slower than my old single core D800

It seems like it does one operation - then I can do something else. Like forget opening explorer if I am checking email -

I am figuring there is some setting in windows that I have to change - little help here.

cache memory in the bios disabled would do just that

Download and run Belarc Advisor - its free - it analyses the machine and lists all the hardware and software details - you can then see in detail the configuration and check the spec to make sure everything is operating properly.

www.belarc.com/free_download.html

OK - so ran the belarc adviser - all updates are done - checked the bios cache in startup - it's OK too. Maybe it's my norton antivirus being a resource hog.

Very dissappointing I figured this laptop would run much faster being a "dual core"

Check out http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

Maybe all those extra programs that everyone installs is slowing down your PC. Although it shouldn't be that bad.

The problem with most Dells(and most other pre-configured computers) is they install gobs of diagnostic/update and other crap at the factory. If you have a brand new computer with a Windows CD, I would reformat, wipe that sucker clean, and start from scratch.

Norton anti-virus is a resource hog - I took it off and ran AVG free edition instead from Grisoft.com.
The other hog is the Microsoft anti adware "Defender" product which can at will take 98 percent of processor cycles.
Defender can be removed like any other program in the "Add/remove Software" control panel screen.

+1 on dumping Norton and going with AVG free edition! WOW, what a difference!!!!

My IT department suggested I install Defender on my work PC. I had to remove it because the machine moved like a snail on crack.